Author Affiliations

The original article Hemoglobin sickle cell disease complications: a clinical study of 179 cases (Haematologica 2012;97(8):1136–41) by Lionnet F, Hammoudi N, Stojanovic NS, Avellino V, Grateau G, Girot R, and Haymann J-P, was published with an incorrect title and abstract due to a production error. The correct title and abstract are reported below. We apologize to the authors and readers.

Hemoglobin SC disease complications: a clinical study of 179 cases

Background

Hemoglobin SC disease is one of the most frequent hemoglobinopathies. Surprisingly, few studies have been dedicated to this disease, currently considered to be a mild variant of homozygous SS disease. The aim of this study was to update our knowledge about hemoglobin SC disease.

Design and Methods

The study involved a single center series of 179 patients. Clinical and biological data were collected with special attention to the assessment of pulmonary arterial hypertension and nephropathy.

Results

Hemoglobin SC diagnosis was delayed and performed in adulthood in 29% of cases. Prevalence of hospitalized painful vasoocclusive crisis, acute chest syndrome and priapism was 36%, 20% and 20%, respectively. The most common chronic organ complications were retinopathy and sensorineural otological disorders in 70% and 29% of cases. Indeed, prevalence of complications reported in homozygous SS disease, such as nephropathy, suspicion of pulmonary hypertension, strokes and leg ulcers was rather low (13%, 4% and 1%, respectively). Phlebotomy performed in 36% of this population (baseline hemoglobin 11.5 g/dL) prevented recurrence of acute events in 71% of cases.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that hemoglobin SC disease should not be considered as a mild form of sickle cell anemia but as a separate disease with a special emphasis on viscosity-associated otological and ophthalmological disorders, and with a low prevalence of vasculopathy (strokes, pulmonary hypertension, ulcers and nephropathy). Phlebotomy was useful in reducing acute events and a wider use of this procedure should be further investigated.